A Restless People  By 1840s, Americans restless to expand  “Divine Mission” idea-Manifest Destiny  Promoted by Land hungry Americans-rich/sparse lands Patriots fear of British taking lands Merchants working with Asia Democratic minded people-spread freedom Nationalists for American Greatness

Invitation  1821: Americans invited by newly independent Mexico to settle in Texas  By 1835: 30,000 whites, 500 slaves settled in Texas (more than Tejans of Mexico)  Agreed to hold up Mexican Const. 1824

Unsettled Territory  Mexico unhappy  Friction-Mexico tries to Halt further American expansion Free the slaves (outlawed in 1829) Take away Texan self government

Texas Revolution: The Alamo  1833: Pres. Santa Anna overthrows constitution of 1824  Texans call for revolution and independence (sound familiar?)  The Alamo: San Antonio; small Texan force annihilated by Mexican Army  “Remember the Alamo!”-Sam Houston  Texans rally and win at Battle of San Jacinto; proclaim Republic of Texas, The Lone Star Republic-ask for annexation

The Treaty to Annex Texas  The annexation debate was long-standing.  In 1836, Texans had voted overwhelmingly to join the United States.  However, US disagreed over annexation largely due to sectional issues

The Treaty to Annex Texas  The North: commerce and manufacturing.  The South: agriculture and slave labor.  Review: both generally disagreed on policies affecting business, slavery and trade Industrial Northern state Agricultural Southern state

The Treaty to Annex Texas  North does not want Texas Extension of slavery Increased Southern representation in the House and Senate War with Mexico  Most Southerners wanted Texas to join the Union

The Treaty to Annex Texas  President John Tyler, a southerner, favored annexation  Feared Great Britain was gaining too much influence in Texas  1843: U.S. officials work toward annexation  1844: sends annexation treaty to the Senate for approval President John Tyler

The Treaty to Annex Texas  Under the treaty, Texas would become a U.S. territory – the first step toward becoming a state.  The treaty called for the U.S. to pay the Republic’s large public debt.  In exchange, Texas would give all its public lands to the federal government. U.S.

The Treaty to Annex Texas  Bitterly divided  North had fought off treaty for almost 9 years  After 3 weeks of debate, the Senate rejected the treaty.

The Treaty to Annex Texas  O’Sullivan and Manifest Destiny changes minds: “The American claim is by the right of our manifest destiny is to overspread and to possess (own) the whole of the continent which Providence (divine guidance) has given us.”  Many Americans began to believe that it was America’s destiny to annex Texas. John Gast’s “American Progress”

The Annexation Resolution  Issues continue into presidential election of 1844  The Democratic Party nominated James K. Polk of Tennessee-wanted the U.S. to annex Texas and expand west, “reannexation of Texas”

The Annexation Resolution  Opponent= Henry Clay of Kentucky.  Originally Clay opposed annexation  Softened his opposition to try and reassure northern voters  LOOKS WEAK  Costs him the election by offending both Northern and Southern voters. Henry Clay

Joint Resolution  Polk’s win=sign of approval  Tyler requests a joint resolution, or formal expression of intent, for annexation  Joint Resolution: only requires majority from both Houses instead of 2/3  Passed in February 1845

Texas Enters the United States  The joint resolution’s terms: Texas would enter as a state rather than a territory Write a new state constitution Could keep its public lands, but some would have to be sold to pay the public debt.  December 29, 1845, Polk signed the Texas Admission Act, making Texas the 28 th state

Reading Like A Historian  Read Documents A-D  Answer the inquiry questions  20 minutes